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MIKE GANTER

Lost by some in the wake of a huge Raptors' overtime win Friday night was the fact that it marked the 100th career victory for Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell.

Mitchell admitted at times when he was uncertain whether he'd ever reach that milestone, considering the teams he had the first two seasons as a head coach in Toronto.

"I'm pleased," Mitchell said yesterday of his milestone. "You go back and look at the first two years and I was wondering (if I'd ever reach it). You look at Phil Jackson with 1,000, you look at George Karl with 800 wins, and there were days when you think, 'will I ever get 100?' It obviously meant something to me to win it on the road and to win it the way we did."

GOOD JOEY

Jorge Gabajosa's contributions can never be replaced, but the Raptors are getting huge production from a number of unexpected sources since he went down.

Latest to step up was Joey Graham who started Friday night against Washington and put up his first career double-double while playing a season-high 40:30.

"We needed Joey to step up and the reason we started him was we needed more size in the lineup for rebounding," Mitchell said. "He rebounded well and he played with a lot of confidence."

Graham had 16 points, three off his season high and 12 rebounds which is a career high.

Graham says the chance to start doesn't change anything for him.

"I'm still going to go out there and play hard and give it all I got," Graham said.

Chris Bosh has seen the contributions from the bench in Garbajosa's absence and he's not the least bit surprised.

"That's how this team is," he said. "We need everybody on this team and everyone knows that. It could be someone else's night another night so guys have to continue to practice and be ready for those situations."

CHIPPING IN

Small forward Luke Jackson is still waiting to make his official Raptors debut, but that hasn't prevented him from contributing.

Morris Peterson, who had a seat beside Jackson for most of Friday's improbable OT win over Washington before coming off the bench to hit the OT-forcing shot, credited Jackson with helping him make that shot.

"I was sitting there next to Luke and there was like a minute to go and he was telling me 'Mo, be ready because when I was with Cleveland last year Damon Jones hadn't played the whole (first round) series (against Washington) and it's Game 5 and he comes in at the end of the game to hit a three a win it.' That stuck in my mind and I look up and coach is bringing me in. I think you have to give a little credit to Luke for that one."